Table 1.
Eligible comparisons of surgical versus medical interventions
| Surgical arm | Drug arm | Disease | No of outcomes (studies) |
| Cardiac surgery | |||
| Transmyocardial lazer revascularisation | Continued medication | Refractory angina | 3 (7,7,6) |
| Surgical closure | IV indomethacin | Patent ductus arteriosus | 1 (1) |
| Dermatology | |||
| Surgical excision | Imiquimod | BCC | 4 (1,1,1,1) |
| Surgical excision | MAL-PDT | BCC | 3 (1,2,2) |
| Surgical excision | ALA-PDT | BCC | 2 (1,1) |
| General surgery | |||
| Lateral internal sphincterotomy | Medical therapy (mainly GTN Isosorbide dinitrate and Botox) | Anal fissure | 1 (15) |
| Pancreatic resection | Chemoradiotherapy | Pancreatic cancer | 1 (2) |
| Oesophagectomy | Chemoradiotherapy and/or radiotherapy | Oesophageal cancer | 5 (5,3,1,1,1) |
| Laparoscopic fundoplication | Protein pump inhibitors | GERD | 5 (3,3,4,3,2) |
| Surgery | Tamoxifen | Primary breast cancer | 1 (3) |
| Neurosurgery | |||
| Decompressive surgery | Prednisolone | Leprosy | 4 (1,1,1,1) |
| Epilepsy surgery | Continued antiepileptic drugs | Epilepsy | 2 (2,1) |
| Decompressive craniectomy | Medical treatment (including barbiturates) | High ICP in closed TBI | 2 (3,3) |
| Surgical decompression | Osmotic agents, blood pressure control and glucose control | Cerebral oedema in acute ischaemic stroke | 1 (3) |
| Surgical decompression | Dexamethasone, antihypertensives and intermittent diuresis | Primary supratentorial intracerebral haemorrhage | 1 (9) |
| Obstetrics and gynaecology | |||
| Suction aspiration | Vaginal suppositories or im inj. of 9-methylene-PGE2 | Abortion | 3 (2,2,1) |
| Suction aspiration | Misoprostol | Abortion | 2 (22,9) |
| Suction aspiration | Vaginal or oral misoprostol | Abortion | 3 (15,13,5) |
| Suction aspiration | Misoprostol and mifepristone | Abortion | 2 (2,1) |
| Dilatation and curretage | Misoprostol | Abortion | 2 (1,2) |
| Dilation and evacuation | Misoprostol | Abortion | 1 (1,1) |
| Laparoscopic ovarian drilling | Medical ovulation induction | Infertility due to PCOS | 2 (9,14) |
| Laparoscopic ovarian drilling | Letrozele | Infertility due to PCOS | 2 (3,1) |
| Laparoscopic ovarian drilling | Gonadotropins | PCOS | 2 (1,1) |
| Laparoscopic ovarian drilling | Metformin, clomiphene | PCOS | 1 (2) |
| Laparoscopic ovarian drilling | Letrozele | PCOS | 1 (1) |
| Laparoscopic ovarian drilling | Metformin, letrozele | PCOS | 1 (1) |
| Laparoscopic ovarian drilling | Metformin | PCOS | 2 (2,1) |
| Transcervical resection of endometrium using rollerball coagulation | Hormone therapy or antifibrinolytic | Heavy menstrual bleeding | 7 (1,1,1,1,1,1,1) |
| Ophthalmology | |||
| Amniotic membrane transplantation and medication | Lubrication, antibiotics and pressure lowering medication | Acute ocular burns | 1 (1) |
| Laser surgery | Intravitreal anti-VEGF | Pathological myopia | 2 (1,1) |
| iStent | Latanoprost/timolol | Open angle glaucoma | 1 (2) |
| Argon laser trabeculoplasty | IOP reducing medication | Open angle glaucoma | 3 (3,2,2) |
| Surgical correction | Botulinum toxin | Strabismus | 2 (2,1) |
| Orthopaedic surgery | |||
| Open section of the carpal ligament | NSAID and splinting or corticosteroid injections | Carpal tunnel syndrome | 1 (2) |
| Open surgery | Corticosteroid injection | Trigger finger | 1 (2) |
| Decompressive surgery with or without fusion | Epidural steroid injection | Lumbar spinal stenosis | 3 (1,1,1) |
| Open unilateral sympathectomy (L2–4) | Intravenous prostanoid iloprost | Critical limb ischaemia | 1 (1) |
| Surgical rotator cuff repair | Non-operative treatment including corticosteroid injection and exercise | Rotator cuff tear | 1 (1) |
| Arthroscopic surgery | Sclerosing injection | Jumper’s knee | 3 (1,1,1) |
| Otolaryngology | |||
| Surgical orbital decompression | Intravenous methylprednisolone 1×3 followed by oral prednisolone | Thyroid eye disease | 1 (1) |
| Grommets (ventilation tubes) | Antibiotic prophylaxis | Recurrent acute otitis media | 1 (2) |
| Tonsillectomy or adrenotonsillectomy | Watchful waiting with or without analgesics and antibiotics | Tonsillitis | 5 (5,4,5,2,2) |
| Thoracic surgery | |||
| Open thoracotomy | Thoracostomy drainage (with fibrinolytics) | Pleural empyema | 1 (1) |
| VATS | Thoracostomy drainage (with fibrinolytics) | Pleural empyema | 1 (7) |
| Urology | |||
| Surgical reimplantation of ureters | Antibiotics | Primary vesicoureteric reflux | 1 (1) |
| Vascular surgery | |||
| Carotid endarterectomy and aspirin 325 mg daily | Aspirin 325 mg daily | Asymptomatic carotid stenosis | 1 (2) |
| Aspirin and carotid surgery | Aspirin | Carotid stenosis | 2 (3,3) |
| Saphenofemoral disconnection | Therapeutic LMWH | Superficial thrombophlebitis | 2 (1,1) |
| Surgery including primary amputation | Thrombolysis (w/rt-Pa or urokinase) | Acute limb ischaemia | 1 (3) |
BCC, basal cell carcinoma of the skin; GERD, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease; GTN, glyceryl tri-nitrate; ICP, intra-cranial pressure; IOP, intraocular pressure; LMWH, low molecular weight heparin; MAL-PDT, Methyl aminolevulinate photodynamic therapy; NSAID, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; PCOS, polycystic ovarian syndrome; TBI, traumatic brain injury; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor.